"The Florida courts have found otherwise, they were not deprived the right to vote"

The Florida Supreme Court said their were problem, the US Supreme Court said their weren't. The Governor's Special Commission on Election Reform has testimony to the contrary.

There are several issues. Thanks to a less than competent firm, some voters where purged from voter registration lists as convicted felons (which they weren't). The US Civil Right Commission is looking in to that (among other things). An interesting side-light: when the State hired the firm to purge the data bases (the one that screwed up so badly) the State's Supervisors of Election organization drafted a memo (well before the election) outlining the problems with the firms work and sent it to the Secretary of State, Ms. Harris. Nothing was done. This is the same Ms. Harris who announced on Nov 9th (or there about) that there was no evidence of anything being wrong with the election system. Now, people are attributing all sorts of motives (from politics to racism) to the fiasco.

Florida is one of 14 states that doesn't restore voting rights to convicted felons once they have completed their sentence. Blacks are heavily represented in this population. (because they commit and are convicted of crimes at a higher rate). To some people, this is evidence of racism. I don't think that was the intent of the law. I do think it's a stupid and dangerous law.

And finally there are the reports of deliberate interference with people getting to the polls, records (the affidavits in Duval County) being destroyed in violation not only of the election code but of the Florida Public Records Act, the faulty voting machines problems and inconsistent standards for dealing with rejected ballots (consistent standards being a major issue with the Supreme Court).

People were 'deprived' of their right to vote in the sense that people who should have been allowed to vote, weren't. The issue at law (in the lower Courts in Florida) was whether it was sufficient to invalidate results. The issue in equity is: How many voters being deprived of their right to vote does it take before its wrong.

"Don't forget that most of the complaints came from Democratic counties. Sounds like the Democrats were depriving them their right to vote"

The correct modifier is "some", not "most" if you're talking about the affiliation of elected officials. Does who's to blame make it any more or less right

I'll offer this on your "love it or leave it" philosophy.

The United States is a Democracy by the stated will of the people (through the Constitution). Capitalism is just an economic system we happen to have. We could as easily have a socialistic economy without violating the Constitution. The right of Free Expression is one of the hallmarks of our system. Within very, very broad limits, people are free to advocate whatever views they want. Applying you r logic to your statement, I would suggest that if you find the exercise of constitutionally guaranteed rights in this county to be so personably disturbing, you might want to find another country mandates more conformity of thought. That, however, is my opinion and your choice, not something I or the government can or should enforce.

Regards,

John